Systems for generating and registering enhanced domain names

ABSTRACT

Systems of the present inventions allow for generating and providing an enhanced domain name. An exemplary system may comprise a domain name stored in a network storage device, a web space associated with the domain name, at least one application associated with the domain name and stored on at least one applications server, and a network communicatively coupling the network storage device, web space, and at least one application server, wherein the web space and application may be automatically enabled upon association with the domain name.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.______ entitled: “Enhanced Domain Name Generation and Registration”concurrently filed herewith and also assigned to The Go Daddy Group,Inc.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present inventions generally relate to establishing a presence onthe Internet and, more specifically, enhanced domain name generation andregistration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A network is a collection of links and nodes (e.g., multiple computersand/or other devices connected together) arranged so that informationmay be passed from one part of the network to another over multiplelinks and through various nodes. Examples of networks include theInternet, the public switched telephone network, the global Telexnetwork, computer networks (e.g., an intranet, an extranet, a local-areanetwork, or a wide-area network), wired networks, and wireless networks.

The Internet is a worldwide network of computers and computer networksarranged to allow the easy and robust exchange of information betweencomputer users. Hundreds of millions of people around the world haveaccess to computers connected to the Internet via Internet ServiceProviders (ISPs). Content providers place multimedia information (e.g.,text, graphics, audio, video, animation, and other forms of data) atspecific locations on the Internet referred to as webpages. Websitescomprise a collection of connected, or otherwise related, webpages. Thecombination of all the websites and their corresponding webpages on theInternet is generally known as the World Wide Web (WWW) or simply theWeb.

Prevalent on the Web are multimedia websites, some of which may offerand sell goods and services to individuals and organizations. Websitesmay consist of a single webpage, but typically consist of multipleinterconnected and related webpages. Websites, unless extremely largeand complex or have unusual traffic demands, typically reside on asingle server and are prepared and maintained by a single individual orentity. Menus and links may be used to move between different webpageswithin the website or to move to a different website as is known in theart. The interconnectivity of webpages enabled by the Internet can makeit difficult for Internet users to tell where one website ends andanother begins.

Websites may be created using HyperText Markup Language (HTML) togenerate a standard set of tags that define how the webpages for thewebsite are to be displayed. Users of the Internet may access contentproviders' websites using software known as an Internet browser, such asMICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER or MOZILLA FIREFOX. After the browser haslocated the desired webpage, it requests and receives information fromthe webpage, typically in the form of an HTML document, and thendisplays the webpage content for the user. The user then may view otherwebpages at the same website or move to an entirely different websiteusing the browser.

Browsers are able to locate specific websites because each website,resource, and computer on the Internet has a unique Internet Protocol(IP) address. Presently, there are two standards for IP addresses. Theolder IP address standard, often called IP Version 4 (IPv4), is a 32-bitbinary number, which is typically shown in dotted decimal notation,where four 8-bit bytes are separated by a dot from each other (e.g.,64.202.167.32). The notation is used to improve human readability. Thenewer IP address standard, often called IP Version 6 (IPv6) or NextGeneration Internet Protocol (IPng), is a 128-bit binary number. Thestandard human readable notation for IPv6 addresses presents the addressas eight 16-bit hexadecimal words, each separated by a colon (e.g.,2EDC:BA98:0332:0000:CF8A:000C:2154:7313).

IP addresses, however, even in human readable notation, are difficultfor people to remember and use. A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is mucheasier to remember and may be used to point to any computer, directory,or file on the Internet. A browser is able to access a website on theInternet through the use of a URL. The URL may include a HypertextTransfer Protocol (HTTP) request combined with the website's Internetaddress, also known as the website's domain name. An example of a URLwith a HTTP request and domain name is: http://www.companyname.com. Inthis example, the “http” identifies the URL as a HTTP request and the“companyname.com” is the domain name.

Domain names are much easier to remember and use than theircorresponding IP addresses. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Namesand Numbers (ICANN) approves some Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) anddelegates the responsibility to a particular organization (a “registry”)for maintaining an authoritative source for the registered domain nameswithin a TLD and their corresponding IP addresses. For certain TLDs(e.g., .biz, .info, .name, and .org) the registry is also theauthoritative source for contact information related to the domain nameand is referred to as a “thick” registry. For other TLDs (e.g., .com and.net) only the domain name, registrar identification, and name serverinformation is stored within the registry, and a registrar is theauthoritative source for the contact information related to the domainname. Such registries are referred to as “thin” registries. Most gTLDsare organized through a central domain name Shared Registration System(SRS) based on their TLD.

The process for registering a domain name with .com, .net, .org, andsome other TLDs allows an Internet user to use an ICANN-accreditedregistrar to register their domain name. For example, if an Internetuser, John Doe, wishes to register the domain name “mycompany.com,” JohnDoe may initially determine whether the desired domain name is availableby contacting a domain name registrar. The Internet user may make thiscontact using the registrar's webpage and typing the desired domain nameinto a field on the registrar's webpage created for this purpose. Uponreceiving the request from the Internet user, the registrar mayascertain whether “mycompany.com” has already been registered bychecking the SRS database associated with the TLD of the domain name.The results of the search then may be displayed on the webpage tothereby notify the Internet user of the availability of the domain name.If the domain name is available, the Internet user may proceed with theregistration process. Otherwise, the Internet user may keep selectingalternative domain names until an available domain name is found. Domainnames are typically registered for a period of one to ten years withfirst rights to continually re-register the domain name.

For Internet users and businesses alike, the Internet continues to beincreasingly valuable. More people use the Web for everyday tasks, fromsocial networking, shopping, banking, and paying bills to consumingmedia and entertainment. E-commerce is growing, with businessesdelivering more services and content across the Internet, communicatingand collaborating online, and inventing new ways to connect with eachother.

Some Internet users, typically those that are larger and moresophisticated, may provide their own hardware, software, and connectionsto the Internet. But many Internet users either do not have theresources available or do not want to create and maintain theinfrastructure necessary to host their own websites. To assist suchindividuals (or entities), hosting companies exist that offer websitehosting services. These hosting service providers typically provide thehardware, software, and electronic communication means necessary toconnect multiple websites to the Internet. A single hosting serviceprovider may literally host thousands of websites on one or more hostingservers.

Hosting service providers often sell website hosting services based uponthe content provider's anticipated memory and/or bandwidth needs. Forexample, a content provider may pay a lower monthly fee for 100gigabytes (GB) of memory (server disk space) and 1000 GB of bandwidththan another content provider whose website may require 500 GB and 5000GB of server disk space and bandwidth, respectively. Content providersmust evaluate their website's anticipated storage and bandwidth needsand select their hosting service plan accordingly.

Applicant has noticed that, however, that presently-existing systems andmethods require a domain name registrant wishing to establish an onlinepresence to navigate through a complicated series of steps to do so.First, he must register a domain name. He must then purchase, configure,and implement a hosting service plan, and perhaps a variety of softwareapplications to add functionality to his website. This process can becomplicated, time-consuming, and fraught with opportunity for usererror. For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for the systems andmethods for providing enhanced domain names and related functionality asdescribed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The limitations cited above and others are substantially overcomethrough the systems and methods disclosed herein, which allow forproviding enhanced domain names and related functionality.

An exemplary method for providing an enhanced domain name may comprisethe step of providing an enhanced domain to a second party. The enhanceddomain may comprise a domain name, a web space automatically enabled andassociated with the domain name, and at least one applicationautomatically enabled and associated with the domain name.

An example embodiment of a system for providing an enhanced domain namemay comprise a domain name stored in a network storage device, a webspace associated with the domain name, at least one applicationassociated with the domain name and stored on at least one applicationsserver, and a network communicatively coupling the network storagedevice, web space, and at least one application server, wherein the webspace and application may be automatically enabled upon association withthe domain name.

The above features and advantages of the present inventions will bebetter understood from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a flow diagram illustrating a possible embodiment of amethod for providing an enhanced domain name.

FIG. 1 b is a flow diagram illustrating a possible embodiment of amethod for providing an enhanced domain name

FIG. 2 illustrates a possible embodiment of an enhanced domain name.

FIG. 3 illustrates a possible embodiment of an enhanced domain name.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a possible embodiment of a methodfor providing an enhanced domain name.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a possible embodiment of a methodfor providing an enhanced domain name.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a possible embodiment of a methodfor providing an enhanced domain name.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a possible embodiment of a methodfor providing an enhanced domain name.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a possible embodiment of a methodfor providing an enhanced domain name.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a possible embodiment of a methodfor providing an enhanced domain name.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a possible embodiment of a methodfor providing an enhanced domain name.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating a possible embodiment of a methodfor providing an enhanced domain name.

FIG. 12 illustrates a possible embodiment of a website that may be usedto manage an enhanced domain name.

FIG. 13 a is a flow diagram illustrating a possible embodiment of amethod for providing an enhanced domain name.

FIG. 13 b is a flow diagram illustrating a possible embodiment of amethod for providing an enhanced domain name.

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating a possible embodiment of a methodfor providing an enhanced domain name.

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram illustrating a possible embodiment of a methodfor providing an enhanced domain name.

FIG. 16 illustrates a possible embodiment of a system for providing anenhanced domain name.

FIG. 17 illustrates a possible embodiment of a system for providing anenhanced domain name.

FIG. 18 illustrates a possible embodiment of a system for providing anenhanced domain name.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present inventions will now be discussed in detail with regard tothe attached drawing figures which were briefly described above. In thefollowing description, numerous specific details are set forthillustrating the Applicant's best mode for practicing the inventions andenabling one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use theinventions. It will be obvious, however, to one skilled in the art thatthe present inventions may be practiced without many of these specificdetails. In other instances, well-known machines, structures, and methodsteps have not been described in particular detail in order to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the present inventions. Unless otherwiseindicated, like parts and method steps are referred to with likereference numerals.

Enhanced Domain Name Generation and Registration Methods

FIG. 1 a illustrates a streamlined embodiment of a method for providingan enhanced domain name 200, wherein an enhanced domain name 200 may beregistered to a registrant (Step 100). The enhanced domain name 200 maybe registered (Step 100) by any domain name registration method known inthe art or developed in the future, perhaps via a website-enabled domainname 201 purchase and registration system, such as that described indetail above and/or may be available on GODADDY.COM's website. FIG. 1 billustrates that the present inventions are not limited to beingperformed during the domain name registration process. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 1 b, the enhanced domain name 200 may be provided(Step 110) by, as non-limiting examples, any individual or entityincluding, but not limited to a domain name registry, domain nameregistrar, hosting provider, and/or software application developer ordistributor. As illustrated by this example embodiment, any individualor entity that may generate and provide an enhanced domain name 200 maypractice the inventions described herein.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the enhanced domain name 200 may comprise adomain name 201, a web space 202 associated with the domain name 201,and at least one application 203 associated with the domain name 201.“Web space” 202, as the term is used herein, is meant to refer to anydata storage and/or data transfer means used to develop and/or establishan online presence. As illustrated in FIG. 3, non-limiting examples ofsuch web space 202 may comprise a hosting service 300, a predeterminedbandwidth allotment 301, a predetermined storage allotment 302, and/orany combination thereof. The hosting service 300 may comprise anyhosting method known in the art or developed in the future including,but not limited to, a third-party hosting provider's hosting service,such as any of GODADDY.COM's hosting plans. As shown in FIG. 3, thehosting service 300 may utilize shared 303, virtual-dedicated 304,dedicated 305, and/or clustered 306 hosting technology.

With a shared hosting 303 embodiment, many websites may reside on asingle server. Each website may be stored in its own partition (i.e.,section or place) on the server to keep it separate from other websites.Shared hosting 303 may provide an economical hosting option becausenumerous hosting customers may share in server maintenance cost. Withvirtual-dedicated hosting 304, servers also may comprise a singleserver, but one that is partitioned into multiple (virtual) servers,each of which may have the appearance to the end user of being theusers' own dedicated server. Such virtual-dedicated servers may runtheir own operating system and be independently rebooted. With dedicatedhosting 305, the hosting customer may lease a complete server that isdedicated to that customer (i.e., not shared with others). This modelmay be more flexible than shared 303 or virtual-dedicated 304 hostingbecause customers may be provided complete control over the server,including the ability to customize its hardware, software, and/oroperating system. With clustered hosting 306, a computer “cluster” maycomprise a plurality of communicatively coupled computers or serversworking together that may appear to a user as a single computer orserver. Clustered computers or servers may improve performance and/oravailability over that provided by a single computer or server. Thecomputers or servers in a cluster may be connected to each other,perhaps via high-speed local area networks. Accordingly, a hostedwebsite may share the processing power of many servers, perhaps withother websites.

The predetermined bandwidth allotment 301 may comprise a predeterminedamount of bandwidth 301 that may be associated with the domain name 201and allocated for use is association with the enhanced domain name 200.The term “bandwidth” refers to the volume of data (often measured ingigabytes (GB)) transferred to or from a server during a prescribedperiod of time. The predetermined storage allotment 302 may comprise apredetermined amount of memory accessible via the Internet or anothernetwork that may be associated with the domain name 201 and allocatedfor use by the enhanced domain name 200 and/or its registrant, hiscomputer, server, or website. The storage allotment 302 may comprise anyamount of memory that may be stored on any form of data storageincluding, but not limited to, a file server, data server, database,and/or any network storage device having the ability to store data. Boththe bandwidth 301 and storage 302 allotments may comprise components ofthe hosting service 300 discussed above. Alternatively, they maycomprise separately-existing services.

Web space 202 may be associated with a domain name 201 by any method oflinking or correlating the domain name 201 with a hosting service 300,bandwidth allotment 301, and/or storage allotment 302 known in the artor developed in the future. As a non-limiting example, a hosting service300 (which may comprise a bandwidth allotment 301 and/or storageallotment 302) may be associated with a domain name 201 by updating thedomain name's 201 “A-record” in the domain name system (DNS) zone fileto ensure that the DNS uses the IP address associated with the domainname 201 for the hosting service 300. A domain name's A-record is anentry in the DNS record that maps each domain name to a specific IPaddress. The A-record therefore specifies the IP address to which a useror browser is directed for each domain name. The A-record may be updatedmanually or automatically, perhaps via specifically-written scripts orother software to accomplish this task. This update may occur during theenhanced domain name 200 providing and/or registration processes (Steps100 and 110). Alternatively, a record correlating the domain name 201with the web space 202 may be generated and stored, perhaps in a networkstorage device.

An enhanced domain name 200 user may wish to utilize the web space 202associated with his enhanced domain name 200 to develop and publish awebsite that may have different features that can be implemented byvarious applications 203 (i.e., server or client-side softwaregenerating the requisite functionality). As non-limiting examples, suchapplications 203 may include a website's operating system, e-mail,online file storage (e.g., documents, videos, photos, etc.), forums,blogs, shopping cart, SSL certificates, flash, etc.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the at least one application 203 also maycomprise an email account 307 (e.g., GODADDY.COM EMAIL), a blog 308 307(e.g., GODADDY.COM QUICK BLOGCAST), a forum 309 application, an instantmessaging application 310, a website building application 311 (e.g.,GODADDY.COM WEBSITE TONIGHT), an online file storage service application312 (e.g., GODADDY.COM ONLINE FILE FOLDER AND ONLINE PHOTO FILER), ashopping cart application 313 (e.g., GODADDY.COM QUICK SHOPPING CART),an SSL certificate 314 (e.g., GODADDY.COM STANDARD, DELUXE, OR PREMIUMSSL CERTIFICATES), a website traffic improvement tool 315 (e.g.,GODADDY.COM TRAFFIC BLAZER), an email marketing solution 316 (e.g.,GODADDY.COM EXPRESS EMAIL MARKETING), another ecommerce solution 317, orany combination thereof.

Applications 203 may be associated with a domain name 201 by any methodof linking or correlating the domain name 201 with an application 203known in the art or developed in the future. As a non-limiting example,applications 203 may be associated with a domain name 201 by installingthe applications 203 on a website resolving from the domain name 201.The website may or may not be hosted with the hosting service 300.Alternatively, a record correlating the domain name 201 with theapplications 203 may be generated and stored, perhaps in a networkstorage device.

The enhanced domain name 200, and each of its components (i.e., a domainname 201, web space 202, and application 203) may comprise a singleunit, interrelated as described above, that may be provided to secondparties, offered for sale, sold, purchased, and/or registered.Alternatively, each component (i.e., a domain name 201, web space 202,and application 203) may be individually provided, offered for sale,sold, purchased, and/or registered. Thus the embodiments describedherein may be practiced by a single entity, or jointly by multipleentities.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, applications 203 may be selected by theenhanced domain registrant, perhaps while the registrant is registeringthe enhanced domain name 200 (Step 400). In an example embodiment, thismay be accomplished via a website-enabled purchase and registrationsystem, perhaps via a webpage allowing the registrant to select theapplications 203 that he may want associated with his domain name 201.The webpage may comprise a software-implemented user interface, perhapscomprising data fields, dialog boxes, drop-down menus, lists, etc.allowing the registrant to select and/or identify applications 203.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, applications 203 may be selected for theregistrant, perhaps while the registrant is registering the enhanceddomain name 200 (Step 500). In one example embodiment, a predeterminedset of default applications 203 may selected for the registrant.Alternatively, applications 203 may be selected by an automatedapplication 203 selection tool, such as that described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/029,062 entitled: “Systems and Methods forRecommending Website Hosting Applications,” which is incorporated hereinby reference and assigned to The Go Daddy Group, Inc.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the functionality of the hostingservice 300 may then be enabled (Step 600), by any method ofprovisioning a website hosting service 300 known in the art or developedin the future. If not already accomplished as described above, the DNSA-record for the registrant's domain name 201 may be updated to reflectthe IP address of the hosting service 300. A predetermined bandwidthallotment 301 and a predetermined storage allotment 302 that may beassociated with the hosting service 300 may then be provisioned (Step700) to accept data, files, and http requests. Once the DNS A-recordupdate (mapping the hosting service 300 to the domain name 201)propagates through the DNS, the hosting service 300 functionality may beenabled.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the selected applications' 203functionality may then be enabled (Step 800). This step may beaccomplished by configuring an application 203 to function via a websiteresolving from a domain name 201. As a non-limiting example, an emailapplication 307 associated with a domain name 201 (e.g., example.com)may be configured to have an operating email account available via thewebsite, perhaps with registrant example.com as the functioning emailaddress. Application 203 functionality may be enabled by settingapplications 203 to predetermined default settings (Step 900). Forexample, a website building application 311 may automatically default toa predetermined website color, format, and number of webpages.Alternatively, the registrant may be provided the option to selectapplication 203 settings, perhaps during the enhanced domain name 200registration process.

As illustrated in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 a starter website 1200 may beprovided (Step 1000) that resolves from the domain name 201 and has acontrol panel 1210 allowing the enhanced domain name 200 registrant toconfigure and utilize all aspects of his hosting service 300 and/orapplications 203. The starter website 1200 may be hosted by the hostingservice 300, or on any server or client accessible to the Internet oranother network. The control panel 1210 may comprise a webpage on thestarter website 1200, a plurality of webpages on the starter website, orany combination thereof. As a non-limiting example, the control panel1210 may comprise a software-implemented user interface, perhapscomprising data fields, dialog boxes, drop-down menus, lists, etc.allowing the registrant to select install, configure, and/or customizehosting service 300 and/or application 203 features and/or settings. Inone embodiment, the control panel 1210 may provide tools allowing theregistrant to modify default application 203 settings.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the starter website 1200 and/or control panel1210 also may comprise a link 1230 to each application 203. In thisexample embodiment, the control panel 1210 may provide either direct orindirect access to each application 203. The link 1230 may be presentedon the control panel 1210 in any form known in the art or developed inthe future, including, but not limited to, a window, dialog box, URL,widget/feed, or any combination thereof. Where the link 1230 comprises aURL, the URL may point to the IP address of the application server wherethe application 203 is stored.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the link 1230 may comprise a unique URLgenerated for each application 203 by concatenating at least onesubdomain to the domain name 201, wherein the unique URL points to anapplication 203 that may be stored on an application server (Step 1100).For example, if a registrant registers the domain name, “example.com,” asubdomain (e.g., “email”) then may be concatenated to “example.com” togenerate a unique URL pointing to his email application 307 (e.g.,“email.example.com”). Using a sampling of the applications 203 discussedabove (e.g., blog 308, forum 309, instant messaging 310, etc.),additional unique URLs may be generated that point to theseapplications, such as “blog.example.com,” “forum.example.com,” and“instantmessenger.example.com.” In this example embodiment, thesubdomain need not have the same name as the related application 203.Any subdomain may be used, perhaps one that simply refers to theapplication's trade name, (e.g., “godaddymail.example.com” or“quickblogcast.example.com”). Step 1100 may be completed by mapping eachunique URL to the IP address for the relevant applications server andupdating the DNS record accordingly. A link to each unique URL may thenbe added to the control panel 1210 (Step 1110).

In an example widget/feed embodiment, the link 1230 may comprise awidget having the ability to receive a feed from an application serverhosting the applications 203. A widget is a host software system forrunning and displaying desktop tools on the desktop that may give accessto information and frequently used functions such as feeds, clocks,calendars, news aggregators, etc. A “feed” is a data format (perhapsXML-based) used for providing users with frequently-updated content. Twocommon feed formats that may be used with the present invention are RSSand Atom. The widget may use any of the widely-available (client orserver-side) feed readers/aggregators including, but not limited to,FEEDREADER CONNECT, FEEDREADER OEM, ATTENSA FEED READERS. Alternatively,proprietary widget/feed software solutions may be used.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the starter website 1200 and/or control panel1210 also may comprise a wizard application 1220 for the hosting service300 and/or each application 203. A wizard application 1220 may comprisea software application that leads a user through a series of stepsneeded to install, configure, and/or customize an application 203 bydisplaying a user interface presenting the registrant with a sequence ofdialog boxes. By following the instructions and/or answering questionsin the dialog boxes, the registrant may accomplish the task at hand(e.g., customizing application 203 settings). There may be one or morewizard 1220 for each application 203 and hosting service 300. The wizard1220 may be presented on the control panel 1210 in any form known in theart or developed in the future, including, but not limited to, a window,dialog box, link, URL, widget, RSS feed, or any combination thereof.

FIG. 13 a illustrates another embodiment of a method for providing anenhanced domain name 200. In this example embodiment, a domain name 201may be registered to a registrant (Step 1300) by any domain nameregistration method known in the art or developed in the future, perhapsvia a website-enabled domain name 201 purchase and registration system,such as that described in detail above and/or may be available onGODADDY.COM's website. During the registration process (Step 1300), asdescribed above, the registrant may select a hosting service 300 and/orat least one application 203 for association with the domain name 201.Alternatively, a hosting service 300 and/or at least one application 203may be selected for the registrant, perhaps comprising a predetermined(default) selection of applications 203, hosting services 300, bandwidthallotment 301, storage allotment 302, and/or any combination thereof.

Without the registrant's further participation, at least one hostingservice 300 and at least one application 203 may be associated with thedomain name 201 (Steps 1310 and 1320), perhaps via the methods ofassociating applications 203, hosting services 300, and domain names 201described in conjunction with Step 100 above. As also described above indetail above—and also without any further participation of theregistrant—the functionality of the hosting service 300 and at least oneapplication 203 may be enabled (Steps 600 and 800), and a starterwebsite 1200 may be provided (Step 1000) that resolves from the domainname 201. The starter website 1200 may have a control panel 1210allowing the registrant to configure and utilize the hosting service 300and at least one application 203.

Steps 1310, 1320, 600, and 800 may be accomplished manually, perhaps bya domain name registrar or hosting service provider offering a domainname 201 and/or an enhanced domain name 200 for sale and/orregistration. Alternatively, these steps may be performed automatically,perhaps upon registration of the domain name 201 or enhanced domain name200. As a non-limiting example, software and/or a script (a program orsequence of instructions that is interpreted or carried out by anotherprogram) may be written and implemented allowing the operating system ofa server providing the hosting service 300, or perhaps an applicationsserver storing the applications 203, to accomplish the associationand/or enablement steps as described in detail above in conjunction withStep 100.

FIG. 13 b illustrates that the present inventions are not limited tobeing performed during the domain name registration process.Accordingly, the present inventions may be practiced at any time by, asnon-limiting examples, any individual or entity including, but notlimited to a domain name registry, domain name registrar, hostingprovider, and/or software application developer or distributor. Asillustrated in FIG. 13 b, an example embodiment may comprise identifyinga domain name 201 from a pool of available domain names (Step 1330).This step may be accomplished, as a non-limiting example, by searchingWHOIS records to determine the availability of a domain name 201,perhaps via a domain name 201 search engine, such as is available atGODADDY.COM's website and, perhaps, registering (or otherwise reserving)the domain name 201. Alternatively, a domain name 201 registry may takeadvantage of their unique position as the registry for a particular TLDand set aside a plurality of domain names 201 from which the domain name201 may be selected, perhaps without formally registering the domainname 201. A hosting service 300 and application 203 may then beassociated with the domain name 201 (Steps 1310 and 1320) and thefunctionality of the hosting service 300 and application 203 may beenabled (Steps 600 and 800). An enhanced domain name 200 may then beprovided to a second party (Step 1340). As a non-limiting example, adomain name 201 registry may accomplish this step by providing domainname registrars (or perhaps other resellers) with the bundled enhanceddomain name 200 for registration to the registrars' customers. A starterwebsite 1200 (Step 1000) may then be provided as described in detailelsewhere in this application, perhaps by the domain name 201 registryor registrar.

FIG. 14 expands upon the method embodiments shown in FIG. 13 a andillustrates an embodiment wherein the applications 203 may be selectedby the registrant (Step 400) or, alternatively, selected for theregistrant (Step 500). As illustrated, Steps 400 and 500 may beaccomplished subsequent to enhanced domain name 200 registration (Step100). Alternatively, applications 203 may be selected before or duringthe registration process as described in detail above.

FIG. 15 expands upon the method embodiments shown in FIGS. 13 a and 14and illustrates that hosting service 300 enablement (Step 600) may beaccomplished by provisioning a predetermined bandwidth allotment 301 anda predetermined storage allotment 302 (Step 700), as described in detailabove. FIG. 15 also illustrates that application enablement (Step 800)may be accomplished by setting applications 203 to default settings(Step 900). Also illustrated is the step of generating a unique URL foreach application 203 by concatenating at least one subdomain to thedomain name 201, wherein the unique URL points to the application 203(Step 1100). Step 1100 may be completed by mapping each unique URL tothe IP address for the relevant applications server and updating the DNSrecord accordingly. A link to each unique URL may then be added to thecontrol panel 1210 (Step 1110).

Systems for Generating and Registering Enhanced Domain Names

FIG. 16 illustrates a possible embodiment of a system for providing anenhanced domain name 200. This example embodiment may comprise a domainname 201 stored in a network storage device 1610, a web space 202associated with the domain name 201, at least one application 203associated with the domain name 201 and stored on at least oneapplications server 1620, and a network 1600 communicatively couplingthe network storage device 1610, the web space 202, and the at least oneapplication server 1620. Both the web space 202 and at least oneapplication 203 may be automatically enabled upon association with thedomain name 201 according to the methods described in detail above.

The domain name 201 may comprise a traditional domain name (as describedabove), the functional equivalent of a domain name, and/or any evolutionof the domain name concept that may be developed in the futureincluding, but not limited to, an enhanced domain name 200 as claimedherein. The domain name 201 may be stored in a network storage device1610—perhaps a domain name database—that may store a plurality ofregistered domain names, and perhaps information regarding theregistrant 1630, who may comprise an individual or an entity including,but not limited to, a person, a business, a governmental institution, aneducational institution, a non-profit organization, or a socialorganization.

The network storage device 1610 may be maintained by a domain nameregistrar and, as a non-limiting example, may comprise a local database,online database, desktop database, server-side database, relationaldatabase, hierarchical database, network database, object database,object-relational database, associative database, concept-orienteddatabase, entity-attribute-value database, multi-dimensional database,semi-structured database, star schema database, XML database, file,collection of files, spreadsheet, or other means of data storage locatedon a computer, client, server, or any other storage device known in theart or developed in the future.

As described in detail above, “web space” 202—as the term is usedherein—is meant to refer to any data storage and/or data transfer meansused to develop and/or establish an online presence including, but notlimited to, a hosting service 300, a predetermined bandwidth allotment301, a predetermined storage allotment 302, or any combination thereof.As shown in FIG. 3, the hosting service 300 may comprise a sharedhosting service 303, a virtual-dedicated hosting service 304, adedicated hosting service 305, a clustered hosting service 306, or anycombination thereof.

The at least one application 203 may comprise any server or client-sidesoftware application generating website functionality. As non-limitingexamples, such applications 203 may include a website's operatingsystem, e-mail, online file storage (e.g., documents, videos, photos,etc.), forums, blogs, shopping cart, SSL certificates, flash, etc.Applications 203 may be stored on an applications server 1620 that maycomprise (as may any other server described herein), any computer orprogram that provides services to other computers, programs, or userseither in the same computer or over a computer network. As non-limitingexamples, the applications server 1620 could be an application,communication, mail, database, proxy, fax, file, media, web,peer-to-peer, or standalone server and may use any server format knownin the art or developed in the future (possibly a shared hosting server,a virtual dedicated hosting server, a dedicated hosting server,clustered hosting solution, and/or any combination thereof).

The example embodiments herein place no limitation on network 1600configuration or connectivity. Thus, as non-limiting examples, thenetwork 1600 could comprise the Internet, the public switched telephonenetwork, the global Telex network, computer networks (e.g., an intranet,an extranet, a local-area network, or a wide-area network), wirednetworks, wireless networks, or any combination thereof.

The network storage device 1610, the web space 202, and the at least oneapplication server 1620 may be communicatively coupled to the network1600 via any method of network connection known in the art or developedin the future including, but not limited to wired, wireless, modem,dial-up, satellite, cable modem, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL),Asymmetric Digital Subscribers Line (ASDL), Virtual Private Network(VPN), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), X.25, Ethernet, tokenring, Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), IP over AsynchronousTransfer Mode (ATM), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), wireless, WANtechnologies (Ti, Frame Relay), Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet(PPPoE), and/or any combination thereof.

FIG. 17 illustrates a system that, in addition to the components shownin FIG. 16, further comprises an application programming interface (API)1720 that may allow at least one third party 1710 to generateapplications 203 that the registrant 1630 may select for associationwith his domain name 201 and, perhaps, inclusion on a website. An API isa software-to-software interface that specifies the protocol defininghow independent computer programs interact or communicate with eachother. The API 1720 may be accessible to third parties 1710 via thenetwork 1600 and may comprise a component of the applications server1620, hosting service 300, and/or—as illustrated in FIG. 17—may comprisea standalone tool, perhaps residing on a server communicatively coupledto the network 1600. The API 1720 may allow the third party's 1710software to communicate and interact with the hosting service 300 and/orapplications server 1620—perhaps over the network 1600—through a seriesof function calls (requests for services). It may comprise an interfaceprovided by the hosting service 300 and/or applications server 1620 tosupport function calls made of the hosting service 300 and/orapplications server 1620 by other computer programs, perhaps thoseutilized by the third party 1710 to generate and make availableapplications 203.

The API 1720 may comprise any API type known in the art or developed inthe future including, but not limited to, request-style, BerkeleySockets, Transport Layer Interface (TLI), Representational StateTransfer (REST), SOAP, Remote Procedure Calls (RPC), Standard QueryLanguage (SQL), file transfer, message delivery, and/or any combinationthereof. The API 1720 may be exposed to the third party 1710 by anymethod known in the art or developed in the future including, but notlimited to, pointing the third party 1710 to a web server to make anHTTP request in the proper function call format. The API's 1720specification may be provided to the third party 1710, which may definethe function call format required by the API 1720. The specifiedfunction call format may require identifying information from the thirdparty 1710 that may allow the hosting service 300 and/or applicationsserver 1620 to determine whether the third party 1710 attempting toaccess the API 1720 has been granted access. Access to the API 1720 maybe governed by an access-protected URL that permits access only toproperly-identified entities.

The example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 17 further comprises astarter website 1200 resolving from the domain name 201 that may have acontrol panel 1210 allowing the registrant 1630 to configure, customize,and/or utilize the web space, 202, hosting service 300, bandwidth 301and storage 302 allotments, and applications 203. The starter website1200 may be hosted with the hosting service 300 or, alternatively, onany client or server communicatively coupled to the network 1600 and maycomprise any collection of data and/or files accessible via a browser ona client having access to the network 1600. Examples of clients that maybe used include a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a hand heldcomputer, a terminal, a television, a television set top box, a cellularphone, a wireless phone, a wireless hand held device, an Internet accessdevice, a rich client, thin client, or any other client functional witha client/server computing architecture. As non-limiting examples, thestarter website 1200 may comprise a single webpage or multipleinterconnected and related webpages, each of which may provide access tomultimedia content (e.g., text files, audio files, video files, graphicsfiles, executable files, etc.). Additional embodiments of the starterwebsite 1200 are described in detail above and further illustrated inFIG. 12.

FIG. 18 illustrates a possible embodiment of a system for providing anenhanced domain name 200 that may comprise means 1800 for registering adomain name 201 to a registrant 1630; means 1810 for, without saidregistrant's 1600 further participation, associating at least onehosting service 300 with said domain name 201; means 1820 for, withoutsaid registrant's 1600 further participation, associating at least oneapplication 203 with said domain name 201; means 1830 for, without saidregistrant's 1600 further participation, enabling the functionality ofsaid at least one hosting service 300; means 1840 for, without saidregistrant's 1600 further participation, enabling the functionality ofsaid at least one application 203; means 1850 for, without saidregistrant's 1600 further participation, providing a starter website1200 resolving from said domain name 201, said starter website 1200having a control panel 1210 allowing said registrant 1630 to configureand utilize said hosting service 300 and said at least one application203; and a network 1600 communicatively coupling the above-describedmeans.

The means 1800 for registering a domain name 201 to a registrant 1630may comprise any domain name registration system known in the art ordeveloped in the future including, but not limited to, a website-enableddomain name 201 purchase and registration system, such as that describedin detail above and/or may be available on GODADDY.COM's website.

The means 1810 and 1820 for, without the registrant's 1600 furtherparticipation, associating at least one hosting service 300 and at leastone application 203 with the domain name 201 may comprise softwareand/or scripts containing instructions that, when executed by amicroprocessor on a server or client, cause the microprocessor toassociate web space 202 and/or applications 203 with the domain name201. Any such software and/or scripts may be stored on any server orclient communicatively coupled to the network 1600, perhaps anapplications server 1620 or hosting service 300 servers. Web space 202may be associated with a domain name 201 by any method of linking orcorrelating the domain name 201 with a hosting service 300, bandwidthallotment 301, and/or storage allotment 302 known in the art ordeveloped in the future. As a non-limiting example, a hosting service300 (which may comprise a bandwidth allotment 301 and/or storageallotment 302) may be associated with a domain name 201 by updating thedomain name's 201 A-record in the DNS zone file to ensure that the DNSuses the IP address associated with the domain name 201 for the hostingservice 300. This update may occur during the enhanced domain name 200registration process (Step 100). Alternatively, a record correlating thedomain name 201 with the web space 202 may be generated and stored,perhaps in a network storage device. Software and/or scripts mayassociate the web space 202 with the domain name 201 automatically or,alternatively, the association may be performed manually, perhaps by adomain name 201 registrar after a domain name 201 is registered.

Applications 203 may be associated with a domain name 201 by any methodof linking or correlating the domain name 201 with an application 203known in the art or developed in the future. As a non-limiting example,applications 203 may be associated with a domain name 201 by installingthe applications 203 on a website resolving from the domain name 201that is hosted with a hosting service 300. Alternatively, a recordcorrelating the domain name 201 with the applications 203 may begenerated and stored, perhaps in a network storage device. Softwareand/or scripts may associate applications 203 with the domain name 201automatically or, alternatively, the association may be performedmanually, perhaps by a domain name 201 registrar after a domain name 201is registered.

The means (1830 and 1840) for, without said registrant's 1600 furtherparticipation, enabling the functionality of the hosting service 300and/or at least one application 203 may comprise software and/or scriptscontaining instructions that, when executed by a microprocessor on aserver or client, cause the microprocessor to enable the web space 202and/or applications 203. Any such software and/or scripts may be storedon any server or client communicatively coupled to the network 1600. Thefunctionality of web space 202 may be enabled (Step 600), by any methodof provisioning a website hosting service 300 known in the art ordeveloped in the future. If not already accomplished as described above,the DNS A-record for the registrant's 1600 domain name 201 may beupdated to reflect the IP address of the hosting service 300. Apredetermined bandwidth allotment 301 and a predetermined storageallotment 302 that may be associated with the hosting service 300 maythen be provisioned (Step 700) to accept data, files, and http requests.Once the DNS A-record update (mapping the hosting service 300 to thedomain name 201) propagates through the DNS, the hosting service 300functionality may be enabled. Software and/or scripts may enable the webspace 202, hosting service 300, bandwidth allotment 301, and/or storageallotment 302 automatically or, alternatively, the enablement may beperformed manually, perhaps by a domain name 201 registrar after adomain name 201 is registered.

The selected applications' 203 functionality may be enabled (Step 800)by configuring an application 203 to function via a website resolvingfrom a domain name 201. As a non-limiting example, an email application307 associated with a domain name 201 (e.g., example.com) may beconfigured to have an operating email account available via the website,perhaps with registrant example.com as the functioning email address.Application 203 functionality may be enabled by setting applications 203to predetermined default settings (Step 900). For example, a websitebuilding application 311 may automatically default to a predeterminedwebsite color, format, and number of webpages. Alternatively, theregistrant 1630 may be provided the option to select application 203settings, perhaps during the enhanced domain name 200 registrationprocess. Software and/or scripts may enable applications 203automatically or, alternatively, the enablement may be performedmanually, perhaps by a domain name 201 registrar after a domain name 201is registered.

The means 1850 for, without said registrant's 1600 furtherparticipation, providing a starter website 1200 may comprise softwareand/or scripts containing instructions that, when executed by amicroprocessor on a server or client, cause the microprocessor togenerate and host a starter website 1200 accessible via the network1600. Any such software and/or scripts may be stored on any server orclient communicatively coupled to the network 1600 and may generate astarter website 1200 that may be hosted on a hosting service 300 andaccessible via a browser on a client. As illustrated in FIGS. 10, 11,and 12 a starter website 1200 may resolve from the domain name 201 andhas a control panel 1210 allowing the enhanced domain name 200registrant to configure and utilize all aspects of his hosting service300 and applications 203. Alternatively, the starter website 1200generation means 1850 may comprise at least one individual manuallygenerating the starter website 1200, perhaps via a website buildingapplication 311, such as GODADDY.COM's WEBSITE TONIGHT.

An Example Use of Enhanced Domain Name Systems and Methods

The systems and methods described herein may be used in many ways to,among other things, provide Internet users with a simple, quick, andeffective way to establish an online presence. The described embodimentsmay provide Internet users with an enhanced domain name 200 that maycome pre-packaged with pre-configured hosting services 300 and websiteapplications 203 that may require no additional setup by the registrant1630 to work. Accordingly, after the registrant 1630 registers anenhanced domain name 200 (Step 100), the registered domain name 201,when entered in a browser, may resolve to a starter website 1200 thatmay display a link 1230 to each application 203, which may be fullyfunctional and ready for use. Alternatively, the starter website 1200may display (perhaps via a widget/feed combination) a window on acontrol panel 1210 containing a wizard 1220 allowing the registrant tocustomize the functionality of each application 203.

As a non-limiting example of how such systems and methods may be used,third parties 1710, perhaps open-source software developers, may developwebsite applications 203 (perhaps a blog application 308 or some otherecommerce solution 717) via an exposed API 1720 on an applicationsserver 1620. These may be added to the applications 203 available foruse by Internet users who may register an enhanced domain name 200.

An Internet user, who may wish to establish an online presence, maysubsequently access a domain name registrar, such as GODADDY.COM's,website and register the domain name 201 “example.com” (Step 1300).During the registration process (Step 1300), the domain name registrant1630 may select a few software applications (Step 400) to providefunctionality to a website, perhaps an email account 307, thethird-party 1710 developer's blog application 308 discussed above, and awebsite builder 311.

Software and/or scripts running on the domain name registrar's serversmay then automatically provision a hosting service 300 (perhaps providedby the domain name registrar on its servers) by updating the domainname's 201 “A-record” in the DNS zone file to ensure that the DNS usesthe IP address associated with the domain name 201 for the hostingservice 300. Any associated bandwidth 301 and storage 302 allotmentsalso may be automatically provisioned. Similar software and/or scriptsmay then communicate with the applications server 1620 via the network1600 and automatically install the selected applications 203 on astarter website 1200 resolving from the domain name 201. The starterwebsite 1200 may be hosted with the domain name registrar's hostingservice 300 and may act as a temporary website until the registrant 1630decides to customize the website, perhaps via a control panel 1210 onthe starter website 1200.

Specifically-written software and/or scripts running on the domain nameregistrar's servers may then automatically generate a unique URL foreach application 203 by concatenating at least one subdomain to thedomain name 201, wherein said unique URL points to said at least oneapplication (Step 1100) (e.g., “email.example.com,” “blog.example.com”and/or “websitebuilder.example.com.”) The same or similar softwareand/or scripts may then map each unique URL to the IP address for therelevant application 203 on the applications server 1620 and update theDNS records accordingly. A link to each unique URL may then be added tothe control panel 1210 (Step 1110) allowing the registrant to access theselected applications 203.

The registrant may then customize his hosting service 300 and/orapplications 203 features via a wizard 1220 on the control panel 1210that may walk the registrant 1630 through the customization process. Forexample, the wizard 1220 may permit the registrant 1630 to modify theappearance and theme of the starter website 1200 and, perhaps, addimages via a website builder application 311, such as GODADDY.COM'sWEBSITE TONIGHT. The registrant 1630 also may use the wizard 1220 tochange the settings on his blog application 1710, perhaps modifying thesequence that comments are displayed.

Other embodiments and uses of the above inventions will be apparent tothose having ordinary skill in the art upon consideration of thespecification and practice of the inventions disclosed herein. Thespecification and examples given should be considered exemplary only,and it is contemplated that the appended claims will cover any othersuch embodiments or modifications as fall within the true scope of theinventions.

The Abstract accompanying this specification is provided to enable theUnited States Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally todetermine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of thetechnical disclosure and in no way intended for defining, determining,or limiting the present inventions or any of its embodiments.

1. A system, comprising: a) a domain name stored in a network storagedevice; b) a web space associated with said domain name, said web spacebeing automatically enabled upon association with said domain name; c)at least one application associated with said domain name and stored onat least one applications server, said at least one application beingautomatically enabled upon association with said domain name; and d) anetwork communicatively coupling said network storage device, said webspace, and said at least one application server.
 2. The system of claim1, wherein said web space comprises a hosting service.
 3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein said web space further comprises a predeterminedbandwidth allotment, a predetermined storage allotment, or anycombination thereof.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein said hostingservice comprises a shared hosting service, a virtual-dedicated hostingservice, a dedicated hosting service, a clustered hosting service, orany combination thereof.
 5. The system of claim 3, wherein said at leastone application comprises an email account, a blog, a forum, an instantmessaging application, a website building application, an online filestorage service application, a shopping cart application, an SSLcertificate, a website traffic improvement tool, an email marketingsolution, an ecommerce solution, or any combination thereof.
 6. Thesystem of claim 5, further comprising an application programminginterface allowing at least one third party to generate said at leastone application.
 7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a starterwebsite resolving from said domain name, said starter website having acontrol panel allowing a domain name registrant to configure and utilizesaid hosting service and said at least one application.
 8. The system ofclaim 7, wherein said control panel comprises a webpage on said starterwebsite.
 9. The system of claim 7, wherein said control panel comprisesa plurality of webpages on said starter website.
 10. The system of claim7, wherein said control panel comprises at least one wizard applicationfor said hosting service and each of said at least one application. 11.The system of claim 7, wherein said control panel comprises a link toeach of said at least one application.
 12. The system of claim 11,wherein said link comprises a URL.
 13. The system of claim 11, whereinsaid link comprises a widget.
 14. A system, comprising: a) means forregistering a domain name to a registrant; b) means for, without saidregistrant's further participation, associating at least one hostingservice with said domain name; c) means for, without said registrant'sfurther participation, associating at least one application with saiddomain name; d) means for, without said registrant's furtherparticipation, enabling the functionality of said at least one hostingservice; e) means for, without said registrant's further participation,enabling the functionality of said at least one application; f) meansfor, without said registrant's further participation, providing amanagement website resolving from said domain name, said starter websitehaving a control panel allowing said registrant to configure and utilizesaid at least one hosting service and said at least one application; andg) a network communicatively coupling said means for associating said atleast one hosting service with said domain name; said means forassociating said at least one application with said domain name; saidmeans for enabling the functionality of said at least one hostingservice; said means for enabling the functionality of said at least oneapplication; and said means for providing said management websiteresolving from said domain name.
 15. The system of claim 14, whereinsaid at least one hosting service comprises a predetermined bandwidthallotment, a predetermined storage allotment, or any combinationthereof.
 16. The system of claim 14, wherein said at least one hostingservice comprises a shared hosting service, a virtual-dedicated hostingservice, a dedicated hosting service, a clustered hosting service, orany combination thereof.
 17. The system of claim 14, wherein said atleast one application comprises an email account, a blog, a forum, aninstant messaging application, a website building application, an onlinefile storage service application, a shopping cart application, an SSLcertificate, a website traffic improvement tool, an email marketingsolution, an ecommerce solution, or any combination thereof.
 18. Thesystem of claim 17, wherein said at least one application is selected bysaid registrant.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein said at least oneapplication is selected by said registrant while registering saidenhanced domain.
 20. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least oneapplication is selected for said registrant.
 21. The system of claim 14,wherein said means for associating at least one hosting service withsaid domain name automatically associates said hosting service with saiddomain name upon registration of said domain name.
 22. The system ofclaim 14, wherein said means for associating at least one applicationwith said domain name automatically associates said application withsaid domain name upon registration of said domain name.
 23. The systemof claim 14, wherein said means for enabling the functionality of saidat least one hosting service automatically enables said functionalityupon registration of said domain name.
 24. The system of claim 23,wherein said means for enabling the functionality of said at least onehosting service provisions said predetermined bandwidth allotment andsaid predetermined storage allotment.
 25. The system of claim 14,wherein said means for enabling the functionality of said at least oneapplication automatically enables said functionality upon registrationof said domain name.
 26. The system of claim 25, wherein said means forenabling the functionality of said at least one application sets said atleast one application to default settings.
 27. The system of claim 14,wherein said control panel comprises a webpage on said starter website.28. The system of claim 14, wherein said control panel comprises aplurality of webpages on said starter website.
 29. The system of claim14, wherein said control panel comprises at least one wizard applicationfor said hosting service and each of said at least one application. 30.The system of claim 14, further comprising means for generating a uniqueURL for said at least one application by concatenating at least onesubdomain to said domain name, wherein said unique URL points to said atleast one application.
 31. The system of claim 30, wherein said controlpanel comprises a link to said unique URL.